iCloud Storage Full: Backup emails locally instead of upgrading to iCloud+
When your iPhone shows the "iCloud Storage is Full" warning, you stop receiving new emails and your device stops backing up. Apple only provides 5GB of free storage.
5 GB for Everything — Why It Is Never Enough
5 GB sounds small, and it is. A single iPhone backup can use 2-3 GB. Add photos, videos, documents, and emails. You can download emails locally to free up iCloud storage.
No Data Loss
All emails preserved as local copies before you delete them from iCloud.
No iCloud+ Subscription Needed
Save money by archiving locally instead of paying monthly fees.
Free Space for Photos & Backups
Freed storage immediately available for the services that need cloud storage.
Accessible Offline
Local emails remain accessible anytime, even without internet.
How to Free Up iCloud Storage
Create an App-Specific Password
Go to appleid.apple.com and create an App-Specific Password for IMAP access.
Download Mailriva
Download Mailriva for free and install the app on your Windows PC or Mac.
Connect iCloud Mail as source
Select iCloud as the source provider and sign in with your Apple ID and the App-Specific Password.
Archive emails locally
Export older emails to a local archive. Folder structure and all attachments are preserved.
Delete archived emails
Delete the backed-up emails in iCloud Mail and empty the Trash.
Frequently Asked Questions
Save your iCloud emails locally
Download Mailriva and securely backup your mailbox before you delete old messages.